Nutmeg-grater



'(No Model.)

- y H. W. SCHOFF.

. NUTMBG G11-ATER. No. 543,633.

Patented July 80, 1895.

W ilgesses UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY W. SOHOFF, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS.

NuTMEe-GRATER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 543,633, dated July 30,1895.

Application filed December 22, 1894. Serial No. 532,710. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: Y Be it known that I, HENRY W. Sonore, acitizen of the United States, residing at Oak Park, in the county ofCook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Nutmeg-1(rrater, of which the following is a specificaion.

The invention relates to an improvement in that class of nutmeg-graterswherein means are provided for holding the nutmeg'and for causing it tocome in contact with a roughened grating-surface, the said surface beingcapable of moving against the nutmeg,or vice versa, so as to effect thegrating thereof. A common form of these devices is to be found in agrater having the nutmeg-receptacle connected immediately to a handle orbody portion and having a toothed plate or disk revolubly mountedalongside of the nutmeg-receptacle, so that upon the revolution of theplate or disk it will be made to engage with the nutmeg and to grate thesame. In other forms this arrangement is reversed and thenutmegreceptacleis made to revolve against a stationary grating-surface.

My inventionis particularly related to the first form, wherein thegrating plate or disk is made to revolve against the nutmeg as conftained in the receptacle; and the object which my invention contemplatesis to simplify the construction of these devices and to make them easierin operation, and consequently of more utility. A second object is tohide or cover, as far as possible, the moving parts of the device, sothat it may be operated without causing exterior parts to move andrevolve to the inconvenience of the operator. These ends I attain byproviding a handle and by rigidly securing thereto by means of a commonbolt or center pin two dish-shaped plates secured rigidly together,between which plates two grating-disks are arranged, one ot' which isrotatably mounted in place and operates in conjunction with the other,which is secured immovably against one of said plates.

The invention also consists in certain novel features and details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described,illustrated in the drawings, and finally embodied in the claims.

In the drawings,Figure l represents a perspective view of a nutmeg-raterembodying the essential features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectionthereof, taken longitudinally through the handle. Fig. 3 is a sectiontaken through the nutmeg-receptacle. Fig. 4 is a detail perspectiveillustrating the bayonetslot arrangement for holding the exterior cap orcasing of the nutmeg-receptacle in place.

The reference-numeral l indicates the hau- -therein a cavity 4, which isclosed by contact with the plate'2 and which forms a receptaclein whichnuts, screws, and like devices may be placed and retained. This is aconvenient device for holding the devices referred to and will be founduseful, as will be apparent without further explanation.

The plate 2 has a flange 5 secured to or formed integral with itsperiphery, the plate being circular in form. The ange 5 projectslaterally from the plate and gives the same its dish-shaped character,as referred to hereinbefore. The iiange 5 is formedvwith a break ornotch 6 therein, which forms an outlet for the nutmeg.

7 indicates the stationary grating.- disk, which is of a size equal tothat of the plate'2 and which is rigidly secured to the inner sidethereof by soldering it in place. This disk is formed with a series ofteeth 8, which are made by punching or perforating the disk, as iscustomary in such cases. The disk has also a central perforation forpermitting the passage of the bolt 3. The purpose of this stationarydisk is to catch and hold the particles 'of nutmeg as they are torn olfby the action of the revolving disk and to impede their progress towardthe discharge-opening, thereby effecting a more thorough pulverizing ofthe material.

The plate 2 and the disk 7 are formed with matching openings therein,which are of a size equal to perhaps three-fourths of the radius of thedisk and whichhave the tube 9 rigidly secured therein. The tube 9projects outwardly from the plateZ and is open at its IOO horizontallyand is provided at its outer end-M with a head 13. This rod 12 passesthrough the end of a cap 14, which is capable of fitting snugly over thetube 9 and which is` formed with a bayonet-slot 15, operating with a pin16 on the base of the tube 9, whereby the cap may be locked in place.

17 indicates an expansive spiral spring, which is located within the cap14 and which bears against the outer end of the same and against theblock 10, and which operates to give the latter a tendency inward. Vhena nutmeg is contained in this receptacle the block 10 is pushed backinto the outer portion of the tube 9, and the rod 12 projects beyond thecap 14. As the nutmeg is reduced in size, the rod and block recede, ormove inward.

18 indicates a plate, which has the same' size and form as the plate 2,and which is located alongside of the same though not in engagement withit. This plate is provided with an inwardly-extending and concentricflange 19, which is similar to the flange 5, and which has formed in ita break or notch 20, correspending to and matching with the break ornotch G and serving a similar purpose. The plate 18 has a centralperforation through which the bolt 3 passes, and the head ot' the holt 3bears directly against the outer side of the plate 18. Fitted on thebolt 3, and covering that part which lies between the plates 2 and 18,is the sleeve 21, which operates to hold the plates 2 and 18 Vat theproper distance apart, said sleeve being made to bear against the plates2 and 18 and thereby perform this function.

Mounted on the sleeve 21,and lying directly against the inner side ofthe plate 18, is the collar 22, which is provided to hold the movinggrating-disk 23 in the proper relative position. The collar 22 may beincreased or diminished in thickness, as desired, for increasing ordiminishing the pressure of the moving grating-disk toward thestationary gratingdisk, thus regulating the distance between the teethof the opposing stationary and moving grating-disks. This disk `23 is ofa size slightly greater than that of the plates 2 and 18, and engagesthe edge of the flange 19, the plate being held from contact therewithat ether points by means of the collar 22. The disk 23 is provided withteeth 24, extending throughout its inner surface, and these teeth arelocated inward of the flange 19, so as to be capable of cooperating withthe teeth 8 of the plate 2 and with thenutmeg.

Formed integral with the disk 23, and projecting out radially therefrom,is the arm 25, which has the button 26 pivotally mounted thereon, andwhich, together with the button 26, furnishes means for moving the disk23.

By providing the moving grating-disk with the radially-projectingintegral arm and pivotally mountingthe button or handle thereon, poweris applied directly to said disk instead of indirectly through themedium of a central shaft or axle, as in the ordinary construction. Theinwardly-projecting annular flanges of the outer-casing plates afford abearing for the outer edge or periphery of the moving grating-disk, andserve to guide and brace the latter in addition to forming thegratingchamber. This greatly simplifies the construction and renders thedevice less expensive in manufacture.

In the use of my invention the parts are assembled, as shown in thedrawings, and the Vnutmeg inserted by removing the cap 1-i and which thecap should be replaced, which will cause the block 10 to bear againstthe nutmeg and push the latter into engagement with the disk 23. Thegrating operation is now performed by revolving the disk 23, which willcause the teeth 24 thereof to tear off particles of the nutmeg. As theparticles of nutmeg torn off by the teeth leave the immediate vicinityof the tube .9, they will drop into the space between the disks 7 and23, whereupon they will be subjected toa second grating operation,resulting in their reduction to still finer particles. The grated nutmegis finally expelled through the notches 6 and 20.

The notch 20 is formed in the flange 19, so that all nutmeg which mayfind its way into the space between the plate 18 and the disk 23 mayescape. It will be observed that by means of the peculiar constructionof the nutmeg-receptacle the nutmeg will be held firmly against thegrating-surface and will be prevented from turning over. In using thedevice, it is held by the handle 1 with one hand, and the button 26manipulated with the second hand, all of which will be understood.

By placing three orA four small knives on the moving disk and bydispensing with the handle 1, the device may be made capable of slicingcucumbers, potatoes, and other small vegetables. In event of such a use,suitable clamping-screws or other devices will be provided, so that itmay be secured to a table in the operation of slicing vegetables.Further, by enlarging the size of the device it maybe adapted forgrating vegetables-such as potatoes and radishes--and in this latter usethe parts will remain unchanged except in point of size.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the lninor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the principle orsacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described the invention, I claim- 1. In a nutmeg grater, thecombination of by placing the nutmeg in the tube 9, after- IOC) IIC

two plates located alongside each other and rigidly connected, eachplate having an inwardly-projecting peripheral flange formed with anotch, said notches being matched with each other, a moving grating-diskrotatabiy mounted between the plates and having its periphery disposedbetween and bearing against the flanges thereof, and a nutmeg receptaclecarried by one plate and capable of pressing the nutmeg into engagementwith the moving grating plate, substantially as described.

2. In a nutmeg grater, the combination of two plates mounted side byside and rigidly connected by a center pin or common bolt, each platehaving an inwardly-projecting flange formed with notches therein, saidnotches being registered with each other, a nutmeg receptacle carried byone plate, a sta-- tionary grating disk rigidly secured directly againstthe inner side ot' the plate having the nutmeg receptacle and within theange thereof, and a moving grating disk rotatably mounted between thesaid plates and having its periphery disposed between and bearingagainst the flanges thereof, said disk being formed with a radialextension beyond, its periphery to receive an operating handle,substantially as described.

3. In a nutmeg grater, the combination of two plates rigidly connectedto each other and mounted side by side, said plates having peripherallianges thereon projecting inwardly toward each other and formed withmatching notches therein, a cap removably secured to the outer side ofone plate and communicating with the inner side thereof, a springwithin4 the cap, a block movable within the cap and pressed toward theremaining plate by means of the spring, said block having a concaveinner face formed with teeth thereon, a fixed grating disk immovablysecured directly against the inner side of the plate having the cap, amovable grating disk rotatably mounted between the two plates and havingits periphery disposedv between and bearing against the lianges thereof,and a handle mounted upon and extending beyond the common bolt or centerpin and forming a stop for the nutmeg tube or receptacle, substantiallyas described.

4. In a nutmeg grater, a pair of annular plates having peripheralflanges disposed toward each other, the handle to which said plates'areconnected, and a common bolt or pivot passing through the center of saidplates and into the handle, in combination with a stationary gratingdisk arranged within the flange of and secured to one of said plates, arotary grating disk mounted upon said common bolt or center pin, meansfor revolving said grating disk, and a pressure collar disposed betweenthe inner face of one of said annular plates and the rear'face of therotary grating disk, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY W. SCHOFF. Witnesses:

W. MoGK, A. THRER.

